Washoe Life

Washoe County
  • 5.0 (4)
  • GOVERNMENT
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Washoe Life is where we connect with community members in Washoe County, NV to hear their stories and speak on topics that affect you.

  1. From Asylum to Services: The Legacy of the NNAMHS Campus

    OCT 8

    From Asylum to Services: The Legacy of the NNAMHS Campus

    This episode of Washoe Life features Mike Wilden, longtime Nevada health and human services leader, as he shares the fascinating history of the Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services campus. From its opening in 1882 as the Nevada Insane Asylum to its evolution into modern mental health and disability services, Mike reflects on the people, policies, and stories that shaped this landmark institution.

    29 min
  2. Getting to Know Fire Chief Rick Edwards

    SEP 24

    Getting to Know Fire Chief Rick Edwards

    In this episode of Washoe Life, we welcome Rick Edwards, the new Fire Chief of the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District. Chief Edwards comes to Washoe County after more than two decades with the Stockton Fire Department in California, where he rose through every rank to become Fire Chief.  He shares his leadership journey, lessons learned from California’s wildfire seasons, and his vision for fire prevention and preparedness in our region. Listeners will also get to know him personally — from his family’s move to Nevada to his excitement about exploring our community, including which mountain he plans to ski first.

    30 min
  3. Inside the Crime Lab: Forensics, Facts, and Fiction

    SEP 10

    Inside the Crime Lab: Forensics, Facts, and Fiction

    When crime happens, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Science Division steps in to uncover the truth hidden in the evidence. In this episode of Washoe Life, we sit down with Division Director Steven Johnson and Supervising Criminalist Dr. Lisa Smyth-Roam for a behind-the-scenes look at the county’s crime lab. From separating TV drama from reality, to the evolving role of DNA and forensic technology in solving cold cases, learn how science and teamwork bring justice to our community. Johnson and Smyth-Roam also share surprising stories from the lab, clear up common misconceptions, and highlight the vital role of forensic experts in Washoe County and beyond.

    28 min
  4. Rooted in the Dust: A Living Future at Fly Ranch

    AUG 20

    Rooted in the Dust: A Living Future at Fly Ranch

    Explore the awe-inspiring Fly Ranch: 3,800 acres of hot springs, wetlands, and desert beauty just north of the Black Rock Desert. Hear from Burning Man Project’s Marnee Benson and Fly Ranch General Manager Zac Cirivello as they share the story behind this unique landscape, the values guiding its care, and how community, art, and ecology are shaping its future.

    30 min
  5. Big Top Brass: Phil Campbell’s Circus Life

    JUL 24

    Big Top Brass: Phil Campbell’s Circus Life

    In this episode, we take a nostalgic trip under the Big Top with Phil Campbell, a gifted musician whose early career took him on the road with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. For a decade, Phil played trumpet and piano for “The Greatest Show on Earth,” performing live alongside acrobats, clowns, and exotic animals in arenas across the country.  Known for his ability to recreate music after hearing it once, Phil shares what it was like to live, travel, and perform with one of America’s most iconic entertainment institutions — and reflects on how the circus shaped his life, his music, and his memories.  So step right up and enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at circus life, through the eyes, and ears of someone who lived it.

    35 min
  6. Fly Away with the High Rollers of the Nevada Air National Guard

    JUL 3

    Fly Away with the High Rollers of the Nevada Air National Guard

    The 152nd Airlift Wing – the High Rollers – is a special division within the Nevada Air National Guard that can fight fires as well as it fights enemies. Lt. Col. David McNally has been flying his whole adult life, but there’s nothing quite like the feeling of defending his country from the cockpit of a C-130. We sit down with McNally and Capt. Emerson Marcus to learn about the rich history of the Air Guard right here in Reno.

    27 min
  7. Recognizing Frontotemporal Degeneration in Loved Ones

    JUN 18

    Recognizing Frontotemporal Degeneration in Loved Ones

    Scott Oxarart has become an advocate and ambassador for a disease he didn’t even know existed just a few years ago. Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) affected his dad quickly – just as it did to the most famous face of this disease, Bruce Willis – and gave Scott and his family a crash-course in understanding this aggressive type of dementia.  Scott shares the signs to watch for and how to help a loved one who might be battling this disease.

    26 min
  8. Talking About Trails with Christina Thayer

    JUN 4

    Talking About Trails with Christina Thayer

    For the first time in many years, Washoe County has opened a new recreation site, and Trails Coordinator Christina Thayer explains how and why a new recreation site comes to be. Join us on the banks of the Truckee River for a first look at the new Riverbend Trailhead, a brand-new access point to the river and portage area for rafters.

    19 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Washoe Life is where we connect with community members in Washoe County, NV to hear their stories and speak on topics that affect you.

Information

  • Creator
    Washoe County
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    76
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Washoe Life
  • Show Website
    Washoe Life